USPS announces end to Saturday mail delivery

With a huge red cloud hanging over its collective head, the U.S. Postal Service announced last week that it will be cutting its mail services to five days a week.

The postal service has seen a $15.9 billion loss in the past year and, according to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, expects more losses by the end of 2013. Donahoe said cutting Saturday services will help the agency realize a $2 billion savings each year.

Starting in August, post offices that are open on Saturday will continue to be open and will deliver mail only to post office boxes. No mail will be collected. Drivers will not go on their usual routes except to deliver packages.

Package delivery seems to be the top revenue generator.

“Our big increase has been packages, about a 14 percent increase,” said local Postmaster Lisa Herbert. “We’re going to focus on that because our mail volume has gone down.”